Tough Talk: Steve Ward On The Upcoming Reunion And What Happened On That Boat Trip

Master MatchmakerSteve Ward is back for a third season of Tough Love, and this time he’s traveled south to Miami where the heat is definitely on. Steve will be giving us his thoughts on every episode. Last week when I spoke to Steve, I kept fishing for answers about Christine‘s infidelity and the breakdown of her marriage, and Steve told me to just be patient. This week, all my questions were answered.I’m sorry I was digging so much last week, you were right, I found out everything I was asking about in this episode. I was jumping the gun last week.

You jumped the gun, I think everyone jumped the gun. It was funny, we trended on Twitter last night nationwide, it was very cool.
The more I watch, the more I can’t wait to find out what happens with all these relationships, I’m excited that there’s a reunion.

It’s the first time I’ve ever hosted a show in that format before. I’ve been on shows in that format as a guest but never as a host. On Tough Love, you’re in the moment, it’s about the women. But on stage in front of an audience with teleprompters and cameras and directors, you’re performing so it’s not just about the women anymore. When I’m on Tough Love, I’m just doing what I do and I’ve been doing it for ten years, but I feel like the reunion show is a talk show, it’s me on my feet with an audience and it’s a lot different.
Let’s discuss Christine a little more…You told her this week she needed to be more open with Frank about her intimacy and relationship needs, and we saw that, but did she address the infidelity with him?

That’s a really good question, and quite honestly, in seasons past I’ve always been the first person to say “Leave the past in the past.” I think that she had the cathartic experience, the “Come to Jesus” moment where she accepted her responsibility for the marriage ending instead of blaming him for why the marriage ended and that was most important. So she had that epiphany and you hope that she learned from it so she won’t put herself in that situation again. I don’t think it’s something that should concern Frank at this point unless there’s a question of infidelity in their relationship in the future.

Where were you while all the women were cruising?

I was actually in Orlando at the time, but all my producers were there so I’m constantly getting notes about what was going on and our producers are very efficient, we have such a great organization — we have a story producer assigned to each girl, there are eight of them, and their job is to eat, breathe, and sleep these girls’ lives. So they follow them non-stop, they watch tapes when they’re off, they’re the ones talking to the guys and we’re all coordinated constantly. They fill me in when I’m off and by the time I go in there I’ve watched the tape, I’ve looked at notes, I’ve been debriefed and I’m fully prepared to engage them.
Avonte and Michelle went on the trip with people who were very new to them, it was basically the second date for both of them and yet it was a weekend trip, what did you expect from this trip with those two? It’s a very intense way to start a relationship.

It’s intense for people in their early 20s who don’t have as much experience traveling or being alone with another person, but these are both women who are used to going away with men, this isn’t anything new to them. But what it did was give them a chance to figure out if the guy they’re with is somebody they could potentially be in a relationship with. After an experience like that, it should be pretty conclusive. I think when you see the reunion show, you’ll be really impressed with how different things are for Avonte and Eric versus Michelle and Sam.

On the opposite end, Jane and Alan were working on repairing their old relationship, but she was really difficult. How do you deal with someone so negative?

You scold them. You chastise them and make it abundantly clear that if you don’t change, no one’s going to want to be with you.

It felt like she was treating him badly just because she can, in my opinion.

She is very self-centered. She’s an only child.

I know you’ve been vocal about Brigette taking things too quickly and now she’s finally realizing that, what did you think about her confirmation that maybe we jumped in too fast?

You’re going to be blown away by what happens. I can’t even tell you.

What CAN you tell me?

I can tell you that Claudia comes back for the finale. We’ll catch up with her. I can tell you that the girls end up making promises with their promise rings that are very important to them and ultimately capture the essence of bootcamp when they get back from the cruise. And that’s what’s most important.

If you have questions for Steve or just want to keep up to date with him, follow him on Twitter (@stevenbward), like him Facebook, friend him on Google Plus and watch his Love Lab channel on Ustream.

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